With the return of 6-foot-6 junior guard Malachi Richardson to an already impressive cast, the Trenton Catholic Academy boys basketball team should prove to be trouble once again in the Burlington County Scholastic League and around the state.

Coach Fred Falchi’s troops kick into full swing this weekend when they host the third annual Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County Tip-Off Classic on TCA’s Hamilton campus. A pair of boys games follow a pair of girls games, beginning at noon when the Trenton Catholic girls take on Bethlehem (Pa.) Catholic.

After the Hun and Allentown girls meet at 1:45, the Notre Dame and Winslow Township boys play at 3:30. Then the Iron Mikes show what they have by hosting Hun in the final boys game at 5:15 p.m.

There is a general admission of $5 to the event with all proceeds benefitting the Boys & Girls Club.

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“We have a lot of talent, so by the end of the year, we should be pretty good,” said Falchi, the 15th-year head coach who returns 6-3 junior guard James Wright, who averaged 13.2 points per game a year ago and 5-10 senior guard Tennyson Lewis, who connected on 49 3-point field goals.

“With the talent we have, we should have the ability to score off our defense, but they are not buying into it yet,” Falchi said.

Once they do, the Iron Mikes should be able to do better than the 52.3 points per game they allowed opponents last season, while chasing the Liberty Division and Mercer County Tournament titles once again.

Down in the Patriot Division, Northern Burlington is coming off an impressive 18-12 season in which it advanced to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III final before losing to Mercer County’s Lawrence High.

A strong senior class graduated from that squad, leaving sixth-year head coach Gene Darling to rely on a younger mix led by 6-4 junior forward Marshe Terry and six-foot junior swingman Tyler O’Dell.

“We’ll rely on our bigs to steal points on the glass, while our young guys gain confidence,” Darling said.

Bordentown will have a new head coach in John Myers. Myers, who has coached at Holy Cross, Timber Creek and Pemberton, will have a lot of newcomers wrapped around an up-and-coming sophomore class with 5-10 guard Shane Jardine and his 6-2 backcourt mate Myron Gordon.

“The players we have back all had playing time last year,” eighth-year head coach Cesar Pereda said. “We’ve had some problems with depth (because of inexperience), but I think we’ll overcome it.”

New Egypt has a bigger jam with only 6-1 senior guard Travis Ward back from last year’s 16-12 team.

“We’re the definition of rebuilding mode,” said second-year head coach Matt Kukoda after seeing 12 players not return. “We averaged 54 points per game as a team a year ago. We’ll have to find scorers, but we’ll also have to defend and take care of the ball.”

BORDENTOWN

Name Pos Height Year

James Buggs C 6-3 Sr.

Justice Davis G 5-9 Sr.

Greg Byrd G 5-11 Sr.

Brent O’Connor G/F 6-0 Sr.

Jahmiere Van Kline G 5-10 Jr.

Matthew Culda C 6-3 Jr.

Brion Teel-Scott G 6-2 Jr.

Jon Vasil G 6-1 Jr.

Shane Jardine G 5-10 So.

Myron Gordon G 6-2 So.

Dante Gipson G 5-10 So.

Head coach: John Myers (1st year).

Assistant coach: Colin Hewko, Steve Perry.

Last season’s record: 12-11 overall; 4-7 BCSL Patriot Division.

Outlook: Myers replaces Kevin Wright after three years at the helm. The Scotties graduated eight seniors and only have five players back. Without much size and plenty of inexperience, Bordentown may struggle until the new players get used to Myers’ system.

FLORENCE

Name Pos Height Year

Marrick Sainvil F/C 6-3 Sr.

Jevon Rankins G 5-9 Sr.

Derek Ross G 5-8 Sr.

Marcus Lawless F 6-3 Sr.

Derrick Tucker G/F 6-0 Sr.

Mike Muchowski G 5-10 Jr.

Mike Morgan F 6-3 Jr.

Jordan Bryant G/F 6-0 Jr.

Mitchell Tanzini G 5-9 So.

Dan McArthur G 5-9 So.

Femi Adebowale F 5-10 So.

Kyle Ryan F 6-2 Fr.

Head coach: Cesar Pereda (8th year).

Assistant coach: Chris Cymbal.

Last season’s record: 12-12 overall; 6-6 BCSL Freedom Division.

Outlook: The Flashes graduated five, including four-year workhorse Quintin Harris. With outside threat Muchowski, Florence will still score, but must play better team defense. With half a team of newcomers, depth may be an issue early on.

NEW EGYPT

Name Pos Height Year

Travis Ward G 6-1 Sr.

Kenny Stillwell F 6-1 Sr.

Matt Kanigge F 6-7 Sr.

Ryan Grasso F 6-3 Sr.

Shane Gallant G 6-0 Sr.

Kevin Laroc G 6-0 Sr.

Steven Wetzel G 5-11 Sr.

Wilson Llatance F 6-1 Sr.

Mark Dempsey G 6-1 Jr.

Jon Mitchell G 5-7 Jr.

Gino Tortoriello G 6-0 So.

Ryan Schwartz G 6-0 So.

Tim Morera F 6-1 So.

David Pocchino F 6-0 So.

Ryan Devine G 5-7 Fr.

Head coach: Matt Kukoda (2nd year).

Assistant coaches: Brent Wilson, Tom Cassidy.

Last season’s record: 16-12 overall; 8-4 BCSL Freedom Division.

Outlook: The Warriors will have a very new look this season after eight players graduated. Ward is the only returnee, leaving coach Kukoda with a lot of work for his second season. Turning a lineup of athletes into basketball players will be the first order of business.

Outlook: The Greyhounds graduated a strong five from a team which went to the sectional final a year ago. With only one senior returnee in Barnowski, Northern may need some time to grow into varsity shape. Terry and O’Dell highlight the junior class, which will also lead this squad.

Outlook: The Iron Mikes only graduated Khalil Batie, Chance Patterson and Tim Patton, then welcomed the return of Richardson from Roselle Catholic. All in all, things should be looking up for Trenton Catholic Academy. Even though the team has many scoring options, it will still need to play consistently strong defense to win.